Hampshire retires Betty Booker’s jersey No. 31 … again

Thursday

Feb 2, 2017 at 8:19 PMFeb 2, 2017 at 9:55 PM

By James Bennett jbennett@c-dh.net

Hampshire High School retired Betty Booker’s No. 31 jersey in 1976.

The high-scoring Booker was the greatest girls basketball player in Maury County history, Daily Herald Sports Editor Emeritus Marion Wilhoite said. Former Hampshire coach and Maury County Director of Schools Eddie Hickman retired Booker’s jersey after her final game 41 years ago.

“She was the most prolific basketball player, boys or girls,” Wilhoite said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

The high school burned in 1977, destroying everything, including the jersey. A replica was retired again Thursday night.

Booker, 59, was presented with a framed jersey and drawing of the old gymnasium, where she scored more than 3,300 points in five seasons with the Hawks. The assistant principal at Memphis Southwind High School started playing for the high school varsity in the eighth grade.

“I am very touched by this honor,” said the 5-foot-6-inch Booker, who played college basketball at the University of Memphis and professionally in the now-defunct Women’s Basketball League. “It was thoughtful of them to recognize me.”

Hampshire Unit School Principal Sonya Cathey was the driving force behind the second retirement ceremony. She noticed five Hampshire basketball players have had their jerseys retired — No. 10 for Leslie Travis (1995-1999), No. 30 for Ellen Riley (1992-1995), No. 24 for Jon Paul Jones (1990-1994) and No. 22 Eldridge Mayberry (1982-1986). But only four uniforms hang outside the gymnasium.

“We started looking at it last year and thought we wanted to re-retire her jersey,” Cathey said. “I went to school here K-12 and have known of Betty’s legacy for years. I often heard about how good she was.”

Booker was so good, she scored 3,329 points in 110 games. As a senior, she scored 1,033 points in a single season, averaging more than 36 points per game in the six-on-six style of play in the 1970s.

“I remember every night out, the gym was packed,” Booker said. “I remember a lot of people tried to guard me. Very few succeeded.”

The old Hampshire gym was barn, Hickman said. It was used during World War II as a cannery.

“She could shoot the ball from the corner, and she would meet it when it came through the net,” Hickman said. “She was an incredible athlete. She was an exciting ball player and had a lot of good teammates with her who complimented her. She was a joy to watch play. Everyone feared playing us at the time because of Betty Booker.”

The Hampshire community continues to be special to Booker, the daughter of Porter and Alice Booker. She grew up on Booker Ridge, about 4 miles from the school. She visits frequently with her mother as she balances a busy schedule, which includes her job as vice principal and officiating high school basketball.

“When I look back at Hampshire and this community, I can say I would not be where I am today without it,” Booker said. “Coming through the school here made it easier for me to stay focused in college. I had all of the support I needed right here in Hampshire. They knew what I was capable of doing.”

James Bennett is editor of The Daily Herald. Contact him at jbennett@c-dh.net.